Sachin's 100th century worth over 200cr?

New Delhi, Jul 22: Bets over Rs 200 crore have been staked by bookies for master blaster Sachin Tendulkar's 100th century in the 2000th test match at Lords.

Bookies are back in action after the India-England test series have begun at Lord's on Thursday, Jul 21. Bookies have this time chosen Ghaziabad and Haridwar as their situate for their centre of operations.

"We have already seen bets of over Rs 200 crore being placed across the country for Sachin to get a century. Since India will be batting second, we are still to freeze the final rates. However, till evening, we were offering a 9/4 for Sachin to get a century. Equally, there was 14/1 betting for Sachin to get out for a duck," said a bookie.

"The timing cannot become more right for Sachin to get his century. It's a historic test; the match is being held at Lords – the Mecca of cricket – and India is the current number one in both forms of the game. Most of the money putting in betting is revolving around Tendulkar. We just hope the rains do not play spoilsport," he added.

Placing Rs 40 on the batting master will fetch the betters Rs 90 in return, while a century will give in return half the price. A century by Sehwag will fetch them Rs and 80 paise for half-century. Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir's century will fetch Rs 1.40 and Rs 1.10. The rates are expected to change depending on how the weather will be on Friday, Jul 22 (today).

At least 40 people were arrested by the Delhi police during the World Cup and 15 during the IPL matches. Rs 13.55 crore betting money was also seized by the police at the time.

The crime branch also retrieved at least 173 'dabba phones' from the Middle East and UK that were used to receive rates.